Holmer's attacking play rewarded with first win of the year.

Greens moved into Runners Up spot on goal difference when they beat Windsor 7-2 on Thursday evening.

Match Report Thursday 11th January 2018
Allied Counties League East Division
Holmer Green 7 Windsor 2
Holmer’s talented Allied side got the New Year off to a winning start when they entertained Windsor at Watchet Lane on Thursday. Often criticised for starting matches slowly, Greens showed an uncharacteristic desire to attack from the off and this enterprising approach almost brought instant rewards when a poor back pass gave Riley an early chance, but he hesitated momentarily and shot at the oncoming Poole with the ball being cleared.
Bowles fired wide following a Windsor corner, before the crowd were left open-mouthed with five goals coming in twelve minutes. It started in the eighth minute when a deft pass from Williams found Adam Riley in the area and his first touch enabled him to fire home unchallenged. Five minutes later, Holmer doubled their lead when Ryan Parsons met Blackman’s free-kick to head home. With the visitors struggling to organise their defences, two minutes later it was 3-0 when following a good run down the right by Oskar Evans, Humphreys’ half saved shot fell to Riley who fired home his second on the night. The busy Poole dived to save well from Blackman, before Windsor reduced the deficit when Sugrue’s shot from distance seemed to take George by surprise and arrowed into the corner of the net. Holmer’s three goal advantage was soon restored when Williams won a ball in midfield and his through pass was fired home by Leo Blackman.
With Windsor struggling to gain any kind of possession, Holmer continued to create chances and a flowing move across the pitch ended with Poole saving well from Blackman. The visitors keeper was being kept busy and next saved well from Riley after he met a measured Humphreys’ cross. Riley who was enjoying the space and freedom to come deep and link up play, put Evans away again on the right and he was brought down on the edge of the Windsor area. Blackman’s deep free-kick was met by Parker-Steele, but his effort was blocked and cleared.
Five minutes before the interval, Holmer increased their lead when Blackman’s corner was cleared to Britton whose deep cross found Ryan Parsons and his downward header went in off the upright. Before the break, there was almost time for Parsons to claim a hat-trick but his effort from another Blackman corner was pushed around the post.HT 5-1
The first quarter of the second period saw Holmer continue to enjoy the majority of the play although unable to add to their score. Parsons continued the search for his first ever hat-trick and went close when a powerfully driven side-footed effort was turned over by Poole. Poole was injured when bravely smothering an effort by the on rushing Humphreys, but was able to continue after treatment. Good runs by Williams and Evans saw both drive crosses across the visitor’s area with nobody on hand to convert, before at the other end good play by substitute Muggs earnt a corner which was well headed clear by Parsons.Josh Todd replaced Riley and within minutes of his arrival a Parker-Steele free-kick fell invitingly for him in the Windsor area and he calmly slotted home his first goal for the Allied Team. Five minutes later, Windsor pulled another back when a free-kick found Lukasz Jablonski unmarked in the area and he headed home past George.
Recently signed Oliver Powell replaced Parker-Steele for his debut for the last fifteen minutes and within minutes completed the scoring with a superb effort. The build-up was all about a great jinking run by Blackman who beat several defenders laid the ball to Powell who cut in from the right and curled a magnificent effort into the far corner giving Poole no chance.
Another positive run by Williams gave Parsons another chance for his third, but again he was thwarted by the diving Poole. The last chance on the night fell to Windsor when a long ball forward caught the home defence napping. Dawes was clear and as George came out to meet him, he tried the chip the oncoming keeper, but George did well to stretch up and parry the ball before it was hooked clear.
This was one of the best Greens performances in recent months with all the players contributing in a good solid team performance. Their attacking play was much more direct and pacey and saw them create many chances. There was a definite lesson to be learnt – to move the ball forward quicker rather than playing to deep and allowing the opposition to reorganise.
Windsor are a young side and looked a little disorganised in the first half, but showed that the return fixture may well be a lot more competitive with a few changes of personnel.